Silver Bay is a Statutory Plan A city with an elected mayor and four council members, as well as an appointed City Administrator. The City conducts even year elections with a two-year mayor’s term and staggered four-year terms for council members.
Mayor Wade LeBlanc [2-year term – expires 12/24] – “I have lived in the Silver Bay area my whole life. Resided within the city limits of Silver Bay since 1993. My family has owned several small businesses in the Silver Bay Area since 1955.
I am married to Crystal, we have 3 sons, Brock, Troy, Gavin, all of whom live in the Silver Bay area. I graduated from William Kelley High School in 1984, and received my degree from the College of St. Scholastica in 1988.
I have served on many boards and organizations, coached numerous youth sports, and participated in most of the activities we have to offer in our area.
It is an honor to represent the Citizens of Silver Bay as your Mayor. I am committed to do my best to represent you in the upcoming term.”
Councilor Richard DeRosier [4-year term – expires 12/26] – “I have been a resident of Silver Bay for over 30 years. I am married to my wife Lisa and together we have raised our three children here.
I am an Investigator for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office – 28 years – Assigned as Investigator with the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and am also a Federal Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
I have been a member of the Silver Bay Fire Department for the past 27 years and have coached youth hockey and baseball.
I have been a past Silver Bay City Councilman and am a current board member for the Lake County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. These positions have given me an insight into issues that affect the City of Silver Bay and Lake County as a whole.
I believe that two of the biggest issues facing the City of Silver Bay are the lack of economic development and the financial difficulties that affect small cities.
Economic development encompasses more than just attracting a business to a piece of property. It involves the look of the community as a whole. It involves solid city infrastructure, decent housing, good educational opportunities, and healthcare options as well as public safety you can count on.
As a seven-year board member with the Lake County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, I have experience and would like to be involved in the process to fix these issues by helping our city leaders research grants and secure funding from agencies such as the AEOA, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Small Cities Development Program, and IRRRB.
Having been a past Silver Bay City Councilman, I am knowledgeable on Silver Bay City policies, procedures, and city government process including budgets, departments, and personnel.
I can be reached at 218-226-4019 and welcome any questions or comments.”
Councilor Dustin Goutermont [4-year term- expires 12/24] – “I was born and raised in Silver Bay and graduated from William M Kelley High School in 2001. I then left to attend college where I earned a degree in Computer Aided Drafting (CAD). I returned to Silver Bay after college in 2005 where I began to work for Northshore Mining. I wanted to get involved in the community so in May of 2005, I joined the Silver Bay Fire Department and was an assistant boy’s high school hockey coach in 2007-2008. Then in 2012, I was elected to the city council. I am married to my wife Tina who is a teacher at William M. Kelley and together we have 2 children.”
Councilor Shane Hoff [4-year term – expires 12/26] – “I’ve lived in Silver Bay for a total of 23 years – the first 8 of my life and the past 15. I am married to my wife Lisa of 16 years who works at Northshore Mining and we have two children attending William Kelley. We are all very active in many areas of the community and look forward to making this an even better place to live.
My parents, Vane and Sheryl Hoff, relocated back to the area in 2014 and I have many aunts, uncles, and cousins who live in the area or visit regularly due to both sets of grandparents raising families here since the late 1950s (Vern / Virginia Hoff and Harley / Jane Jasperson).
I graduated from Red Wing High School in 1994 and from UMD with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree in 1998. I worked at Northshore Mining Company for 12 years in various engineering and management roles where I met many wonderful people. For the past 3 years, I have worked for BASF as an account manager which has allowed me to expand my reach professionally while spending more time with my family and friends.
I am a member of the Silver Bay Fire Department since 2001 and coach youth hockey and baseball. My hobbies include fishing, hunting, camping, hockey, softball, tennis, golf and of course playing bean bags.
I decided to run for City Council because I believe this is an exciting time for Silver Bay and we all have the opportunity to really make a positive contribution to our community for generations to come. I come into this with an open mind, eager to listen to all sides, with the goal of achieving the best solutions for our town as a whole.
Councilor Ben Bautch [4-year term – expires 12/24] – “I was born and raised in Silver Bay and went to William M Kelley. I started working for Cold Spring Granite out of Babbitt and Isabella from 2006 to 2008. In March of 2008 I got hired at North Shore Mining where I started out as an operator in the concentrator. A year later I worked my way into maintenance in the pallet plant. I have worked in maintenance at the pallet plant and concentrator for 11 years now as a Millwright. In 2014 I met my wife Jena. We got married in August of 2017 . She’s an LPN at the Veteran’s Home here in Silver bay. She helps me raise my 10 year old daughter and our 5 year old son. I have always loved living on the North Shore. I enjoy the outdoor life here and spending time with my family and friends. This town means a lot to me so I wanted to be involved with it. I have always wanted to give back to the community in some way. I have chose to run for City Council to help make this community we live in better and to help out in any way I can. I want to bring good change and new ideas to this community so we can help maintain and build this wonderful town.”
The council meets twice a month on the first and third Monday at 7:00 pm.
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